Petit Crayon Studio

My name is Karine and I am the founder of Petit Crayon Studio, an illustration and retail brand based in Hong Kong. I am from French Canadian origins and been living in Hong Kong for 3 years.

I am a mother to a 9 year old daughter who was born in Paris, France and also lived in Canada a couple of years. I find Hong Kong is a great place to raise children as it is not only stimulating but also safe and calm.

My work typically incorporates watercolor, delicate details and vibrant colors. I get directly inspired from my love of Hong Kong, the people I meet, as well as the wonderful moments I spend on a daily basis in this vibrant city.

My Process

All images printed on my products start on paper: sketched, painted and sometimes hand-lettered (I am still challenged on that point!). Most of the time, I would only use watercolors, but adding details with Sharpies, gold and silver watercolor can change drastically an art piece, so I do incorporate different medias once in a while.

What makes my art so unique are the imperfections! If you observe well my products, you can see different un-erased line strokes, mistakes and details which makes my art imperfect yet so unique.

Once the paper version is complete, I scan it and edit it so that colors can be adjusted and minor imperfections fixed.

I partner with a variety of manufacturers from Canada, UK, Hong Kong and China that transform my watercolors into best-selling products. I care about product quality, the environment, fair wages and working conditions for laborers, so I make every effort to source as many products nearby and I pick my manufacturers carefully.